Super Bowl Arrest Made One Year After Laguna Niguel Hit And Run

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — On Super Bowl Sunday in 2017, a man riding a bicycle at approximately 9 p.m. was struck by a possible drunk driver. The driver sped off, leaving the injured man behind. The man suspected of the crime was arrested exactly one year later.

The night of Feb. 5, 2017, on Super Bowl Sunday, Stephen Schenkenberger was riding his bicycle, crossing Niguel Road from Ridgeway in the city of Laguna Niguel, when he was struck by a vehicle. He suffered severe blunt force trauma injuries causing him to lose mobility and continuing with several months of rehabilitation.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Reconstruction Team (MART) began investigating the case. Through investigative means, the suspect was identified as 53-year-old Timothy Anthony Cronin. Based on preliminary reports, it appeared to investigators that Cronin may have been on his way home from a Super Bowl party and may have been intoxicated when the incident occurred, Public Information Manager Carrie Braun said.

"Over the course of the past year, MART worked diligently to obtain evidence regarding the circumstances of the case and presented it to the District Attorney’s office for review," Braun said. "Based on the evidence collected, the DA’s office issued a warrant for Felony Hit & Run and DUI for Cronin."

On Feb. 4, 2018, Super Bowl Sunday, at approximately 9 a.m. MART personnel observed suspect Cronin attempting to leave his residence. Cronin was contacted and taken into custody without incident. Cronin was later booked at the Orange County Jail and will be arraigned on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.

OCSD photo